Valentine’s Day Memory Game for Preschoolers
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There is something so unique and fun about holidays that everybody loves and enjoys, which gives you the perfect opportunity to change around in your classroom and make your preschoolers feel they are doing something new. Valentine’s Day tends to be very exciting for your children, like every other holiday for that matter, and this low-prep Valentine’s Day Memory Game is so fun that it will make you look like a hero, for sure!
Every year, I try to incorporate new ideas for celebrating different holidays with my preschoolers, and Valentine’s Day is no different.
It is so much fun to invite our students to exchange little cards and candy, use the colors red (my favorite), pink, and white to do all kinds of artwork, and take it as an excuse to have a little party to break the daily routine. So why not also use this opportunity to teach them a fun memory game?
Valentine’s Day Memory Game
This FREE Valentine’s Day Memory Game includes two pages, nine cards each, that your preschoolers can use in several ways to develop skills such as:
- Language development.
- One-to-One correspondence.
- Pre-writing/fine motor development.
- Concentration.
- Memory.
- Creating sets.
This Valentine’s Day Memory Game could be used in many ways, such as:
- Small group activity
- Math center option
- Take home game
- Quiet area option
Valentine’s Day Books
Reading stories is an excellent way to introduce this and every other activity you do. It is essential to engage your preschoolers with books from the beginning to introduce a theme and help them develop pre-reading and pre-writing skills that will be key to acquiring a good foundation for reading and writing.
These are some of my favorite books for Valentine’s Day month:
How Many Do I Love You? by Chery Lord-Byrd. This children’s counting book is full of love, and each flip of the page allows you to practice counting to 10, discover fun-loving messages, and look at cute illustrations of animals.
How to Catch a Loveosaurus by Alice Walstead blends exciting traps and STEAM concepts with hilarity and chaos to encourage reading, learning, and imagination. This charming adventure will delight young readers, families, and educators alike.
The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing. This story invites you to join the colorful fun and then come to school the next morning for a day of parties and games!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose! by Lucille Colandro. With rhyming text and hilarious illustrations, this wacky version of the classic song will appeal to young readers as they follow the Old Lady on a wild Valentine’s Day adventure.
Groggle’s Monster Valentine by Diana Murray. Follow Groggle Monster on his Valentine’s Day card-making for Snarlina, his best friend worldwide.
Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. One day, it rains hearts, perfect for making Valentine’s Day cards, and Cornelia Augusta catches them to send them to her animal friends.
I Love You More, Babysaur by Rose Russner. Filled with cute dinosaur puns, beautiful illustrations, full names and pronunciations, and a heartwarming message, this story is perfect for sharing with someone you love.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff is perfect for preschoolers who want a simple introduction to the fun of Valentine’s Day.
Little Critter: Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter! by Mercer Meyer. This storybook features gatefold flaps readers can pull back to discover all the fun Valentine’s Day surprises.
I Love You Like No Otter by Rose Russner. This book combines a warm message of love with beautifully illustrated animals.
How to Prepare Valentine’s Day Memory Game
The cards in this game must be durable and robust because the children will manipulate them in any way, and you want them to last a long time.
Once you get them ready, you might want to place them in a small basket, a little box, or a Ziploc bag so they can stay together and you don’t lose some of the cards.
To get this Valentine’s Day Memory Game ready, you will need these materials:
- FREE Valentine’s Day Memory Game cards are at this post’s end.
- White cardstock
- Scissors
- Laminator machine
- Laminator pouches
Begin by printing two sets of each page using white cardstock. Then, cut out and laminate each of the tiles to protect them and make them last longer. At the end of the month, you can store the game in a pencil case or a Zip-lock bag to protect it and use it year after year.
If your preschoolers have been exposed to other memory games, they will probably be able to work independently; however, for new students or children unfamiliar with these types of games, your guidance.
How to Play Valentine’s Day Memory Game
To start the game, lay the cards face down in rows and columns so your preschoolers can only see the backside, and invite them to join you for a matching game!
Keep it super simple and start by playing like any traditional memory game. Children select two cards to turn over and try to make a match. If a match is made, the preschooler gets to keep the cards. If not, the cards must be turned back over, and the next preschooler takes the turn.
This game is excellent for strengthening the children’s concentration, memory, one-to-one correspondence, and set creation. It will also keep them busy for a long time while they learn without even realizing it.
Extension Activities for Valentine’s Day Memory Game
These matching cards are so sweet and pretty that you can also use them for other learning games. This will avoid boredom in your preschoolers and make your life a little easier without having to prep for different activities.
Some of the uses and activities that come to mind are:
- Phonological awareness game: take one of the cards and name the picture emphasizing the beginning sound, for example: “This is a heart. I hear /h/ /h/ /h/ at the beginning of the word heart.
2. Letter recognition: Take one of the cards and name the picture, saying the name of the letter that the picture starts with, for example: “This is a letter. The letter starts with the letter “Ll.”
3. Pre-Writing: Use the written part of Valentine’s Day Word Wall Cards and have the children match the picture with the word.
4. Language Development: During circle time, select one of the cards and invite your preschoolers to create a story using the picture while you take dictation to make a class book.
5. Artwork: invite each preschooler to select a card and use it as an inspiration to draw or paint a picture.
6. The “The Missing Card” Game: This game is better as a small group activity. Take 3 to 5 cards and place them on a table. Ask your preschoolers to name the pictures on each card. Then, have your children close their eyes while you remove one card. Then, ask your preschoolers to open their eyes and tell you which card is missing.
Valentine’s Day Décor
This FREE printable will surely help you with this. Just click on the link to download the ones you like.
Then check out my Valentine Bingo Game, Valentine’s Day Math Puzzle, and Valentine’s Day Word Wall Cards, and get them, too, to expand your Valentine’s Day activities collection and help your preschoolers have fun while learning. They are completely free for my subscribers.
Pit If for Later
If you don’t have time to download your printable, pin it to your Valentine’s Day and any other Pinterest board for later.
Remember to grab your free Valentine’s Day Memory Game printable! Just click on the link below, type your information, and you’ll receive the printable immediately.
I hope you enjoy these activities and printables and that they help you have a memorable and fun Valentine’s Day with your preschoolers.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.S. If you want to see an article about making something specific, please let me know, and I will try my best to write it for you. My goal is to help you in any way I can, and I wouldn’t say I like anything better than to post something that you might find helpful.
